May 2026 in Vietnam: A Guide to Cities and Events
May is a transitional month: the south enters the rainy season, while the center and north of the country are at their peak. The country's main event is the opening of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival on May 30, which turns the city into a major summer attraction. This is the month when it's best to choose Da Nang, Hoi An, or Hue over the beachy south.
🎵 Major concerts in May
Concerts and live music in May 2026
🗺 Quick navigation
📍 Da Nang
The main events of May
May is absolutely the best month to come to Da Nang for events: the city hosts two of the biggest events of the entire year.
May 10 – IRONMAN Vietnam 2026 (the first full IRONMAN in Vietnam’s history)
The 10th anniversary IRONMAN 70.3 Da Nang tournament is taking place this year alongside Vietnam's first-ever full IRONMAN (140.6 km – 3,8 km swim + 180 km bike + 42 km run). It's a true sporting celebration for the entire city:
Start at 04:00 on the Vo Nguyen Giap embankment in the East Sea Park
Thousands of participants from dozens of countries
Free spectator area along My Khe Beach
📍 East Sea Park, Vo Nguyen Giap Street
🗓 May 7–8 — registration of participants, May 10 — race
May 20–24 — Danang Food Tour Festival 2026
An Hai Food Festival: hundreds of Da Nang and international dishes, master classes, and street performances.
📍 An Hai District, Da Nang
🔥 May 30 — Opening of DIFF 2026 (International Fireworks Festival)
The first night of the summer's main festival: Vietnam vs. China, theme: "Nature." The series continues every Saturday until July 11.
📍 Han River Port, Tran Hung Dao Street
🎟 Tickets: Opening (May 30) and Final (July 11) — VVIP 4,000,000 VND, Grandstands from 500,000 VND
Is it worth going to Da Nang in May?
Yes, definitely. If you have to choose one city in May, it's Da Nang. Two major events plus perfect beach weather before the rainy season begins. If you can't make it in May, come any Saturday in June for the DIFF fireworks.
📍 Hoi An
The main events of May
May 11 – Lantern Festival
A monthly blackout evening: The Old Quarter is lit only by silk lanterns and paper lotuses float down the Thu Bon River.
May 1–3 — Net Hoa Nghe Hoi An Festival 2026
Hoi An Traditional Crafts Festival – live demonstrations of pottery, silk, lantern and lacquer making right in the Old Quarter.
📍 Hoi An Dong and Hoi An Tay districts
May 9 – Bak De Chan Wu Festival
The traditional religious festival at the Japanese Covered Bridge is one of the most photogenic rituals of the year.
📍 Japanese Covered Bridge, Hoi An
May 26–31 – Vesak (Buddha's Birthday)
Hoi An and its surrounding areas host Buddhist processions, lantern ceremonies at pagodas, and vegetarian fairs.
May 27 – Lantern Festival (second in May)
In May, the full moon falls twice according to the lunar calendar - the second lantern evening is especially beautiful by the river.
Is it worth going to Hoi An in May?
Yes, especially if you're looking for a combination of culture, atmosphere, and several events in one place without the crowds. The weather is fine, and the summer tourist storm is still a long way off.
📍 Hanoi
The main events of May
May 1st – Labor Day
An official holiday. The historic center and Hoan Kiem Lake are bustling with street fairs and concerts.
May 25 – Giong Festival (Hội Gióng)
One of Vietnam's oldest national festivals, Phu Dong Village (Gia Lam District) features a ceremonial procession from the Mother Temple to the Thuong Temple, complete with ritual offerings and performances of the classical opera Cheo. It is included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
📍 Phu Dong Village, Gia Lam District (30 km from central Hanoi)
Is it worth visiting Hanoi in May?
For culture and urban exploration, it's great. The weather is warm (28°C), although there are occasional short showers. If you want the sea and fireworks, fly to Da Nang.
📍 Ho Chi Minh City
The main events of May
Vesak 2026 – Night Procession (date to be confirmed, end of May)
Last year, thousands of Buddhists walked a 4-kilometer procession carrying lanterns and Buddha statues through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City—one of the most moving sights of the year. In 2026, China will host UN Vesak Day, but Vietnamese Buddhist communities traditionally hold their own ceremonies.
📍 Vietnam Buddhist University, Ho Chi Minh City
Concerts in May:
Specific announcements of major artists for May 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City have not yet been confirmed. Stay tuned for further announcements—the concert season in Ho Chi Minh City traditionally picks up in June.
Is it worth visiting Ho Chi Minh City in May?
With some caveats. May marks the beginning of the rainy season (33°C, daily afternoon showers). While it's fine for city tourism (short rains), November through March are better for longer vacations.
📍 Nha Trang
The main events of May
May is a transitional month. The first two weeks are still comfortable, but mid-May marks the beginning of the off-season. There are no major city events.
Late May: Official announcement of the 2026 Nha Trang Marine Festival program —the city's most anticipated event, postponed from 2025. Stay tuned for date announcements.
Is it worth going to Nha Trang in May?
Early May is still possible, especially if you managed to book a cheap ticket. After May 15, it's best to wait until June or July, when the Marine Festival dates are confirmed.
📍 Phu Quoc
The main events of May
May marks the start of the official rainy season on Phu Quoc. The sea becomes murky, the surf intensifies, and diving visibility drops sharply. Tourist traffic to the island noticeably declines, and accommodation prices are at their lowest for the year.
Is it worth going to Phu Quoc in May?
Just for the price. If you want a quiet island for next to nothing and don't mind the rain, apartments and villas are half the price of winter. But for the sea and the beach, April or November-March are better.
🎖️ MAY 9 IN VIETNAM — HOW THEY CELEBRATE VICTORY DAY HERE
May 9th is not a public holiday in Vietnam , but it is one of the warmest and most sincere days for the country's Russian-speaking community. Vietnam and Russia have been strategic allies since Soviet times, and the Vietnamese have a special relationship with this date.
Why does Vietnam remember this date?
The USSR played a key role in supporting Vietnam during the American-led war: equipment, weapons, specialists, and student programs. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese studied at Soviet universities. Many of them still live in the country and remember May 9th as a personal holiday.
In 2025, 86 Vietnamese troops marched in a parade on Red Square in Moscow, symbolizing the enduring alliance between the two countries.
The Immortal Regiment in Vietnam has been a tradition since 2017.
The Immortal Regiment march takes place in Vietnam annually. It is organized by the Russian Embassy, the Russian House (RCSC), and Russian-speaking communities:
Participants arrive carrying portraits of their veteran relatives and Russian and Vietnamese flags. Following the march, there will be a concert by "Voices of Victory," featuring Russian and Vietnamese war songs, and students from Vietnamese universities offering Russian language courses.
Official events - who organizes them?
In addition to the Immortal Regiment march, the following events are traditionally held in Vietnam on May 9:
🏛️ Receptions at the Russian Embassy in Hanoi for veterans, diplomats, and representatives of Vietnamese-Russian enterprises
🎖️ Flower-laying ceremonies are organized by the Vietnamese-Russian Friendship Societies in the provinces (Quang Ngai, Khanh Hoa/Nha Trang, Hanoi)
🎵 Concerts - in Nha Trang in 2013, the event was organized by the joint venture Vietsovpetro together with the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa Province
📺 Russian-language media in Vietnam (VOV World, VietnamPlus in Russian) are publishing congratulations and reports
Practical: How to find an event in your city
There are no official announcements on Vietnamese government websites—May 9th is being organized by the diaspora and the embassy. For up-to-date information, please look for:
📘 Facebook: groups "Russians in Nha Trang," "Russians in Da Nang," "Russians in Ho Chi Minh City"
📱 VK: Russian-speaking expat communities by city
🌐 Website of the Russian House (RCSC) in Hanoi: rus.org.vn
Peculiarity of 2026
The 81st anniversary of Victory Day isn't a round number, so no national events are expected. But for Vietnam's Russian-speaking community, it's a living tradition every year, regardless of the date's roundness.
